DUBLIN, Ireland-Vodafone and consumer groups in Ireland are once again at odds over the price of calls following the publication of figures showing that average revenue per user (ARPU) in Ireland is significantly higher than the other European countries in which the company has a presence. More than 1.7 million Irish Vodafone subscribers spent an [...]

MELBOURNE, Australia-Vodafone New Zealand has chosen Ericsson to provide end-to-end multimedia messaging service (MMS) services between New Zealand and Australia. Vodafone New Zealand plans to launch extended MMS services in September. According to Ericsson, it will establish a “push-proxy gateway” in Vodafone’s network to allow MMS applications and content to be delivered between MMS-enabled mobile [...]

MANILA, The Philippines-Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is expected to post continued gains for the second quarter of the year amid the slowdown in growth of both the wireless and wireline businesses, according to a report from financial service company Morgan Stanley. The company is seen to register earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia-The Malaysian government awarded two of three available third-generation (3G) licenses this week, with incumbent operators Maxis Communications and Telekom Malaysia walking away with the US$13.2 million awards. Three other bidders, Time Dotcom, Technology Resources Industries and newcomer E-Touch, failed to meet requirements for licenses. The Malaysia mobile market, which currently has five [...]

REDMOND, Washington, United States-AT&T Wireless Services and Microsoft said they will develop and distribute end-to-end solutions for Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PCs, smart phones and laptops designed to provide wireless access to e-mail, information and applications behind corporate firewalls. In addition, AT&T Wireless plans to be the first carrier to offer enterprise-grade Microsoft .NET location-based [...]

PARIS-France T

HELSINKI, Finland-Sonera has sold a stake in SmarTrust to venture capital funds the Carlyle Group, GE Equity and Eqvitec Partners for US$34.3 million. Sonera will retain a 39.3-percent stake in SmarTrust, which provides mobile security services and infrastructure. Sonera, which is in the process of merging with Sweden’s Telia, is looking to reduce its high [...]

BATH, United Kingdom-Cramer Systems said it will supply a strategic network inventory system for Norwegian operator NetCom’s next-generation network. NetCom will use the system to consolidate disparate systems used to track network infrastructure into one system.

BOULDER, Colo.-MapInfo Corp. is combining its miAware location-based services platform with Intrado Inc.’s location technologies and services, said the companies. “Together we will help carriers offer their subscribers differentiating and value-added, location-enhanced services ranging from directions to hotels and restaurants for travelers, to roadside assistance for stranded motorists, to people locators and fleet and package [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia-The Malaysian government awarded two of three available third-generation licenses this week, with incumbent operators Maxis Communications and Telekom Malaysia walking away with the $13.2 million awards. Three other bidders, Time Dotcom, Technology Resources Industries and newcomer E-Touch failed to meet requirements for licenses. The Malaysia mobile market, which currently has five operators, [...]